Prevalence and maternal-fetal outcome among patients with gestational diabetes at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is any degree of glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. Women with GDM are at increased risk of adverse obstetric and perinatal outcome. The aim of this study is to review and determine the prevalence of GDM in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. It is a retrospective study on women with GDM attending the antenatal clinic of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital from January 2019 to December 2019. Patients with GDM were identified by getting their Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) results from the register of chemical pathology laboratory, then their case folders were retrieved from the records department and their socio-demographic characteristics were filled into a proforma and analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Results were presented using descriptive statistics (tables, charts and chi-square test). A total of 2416 clients attended antenatal clinic during the study period. 217 patients had an indication for OGTT which was done in chemical pathology lab of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. The OGTT result of 48 patients fell within the diagnostic value of GDM giving a prevalence of 2%. The peak age range was 31-35 years with a mean age of 31.9±4.61. Most - 23 (69.7%) - were Hausa by tribe with either secondary 17 (51.5%) or tertiary education 16 (48.5%), but mostly full-time house wives 16 (48.5%). In this study, the most common associated factor was family history of diabetes (27%), followed by those with a previous history of GDM (15%) then previous delivery of a macrosomic baby (12%) and associated medical condition (12%), then those with a history of sudden Intrauterine Fetal Demise (IUFD) (3%). There was a statistically significant difference between the obstetric outcome and the abnormality in blood sugar level. The prevalence of GDM in this study is low but falls within the global range. The most common associated factor was family history of diabetes and there was a statistically significant association between the obstetric outcome and the abnormality in blood sugar level.